Trial starts for man accused of abducting, sexually abusing, killing 9-year-old Gino

The court in Maastricht will start the four-day criminal trial on Monday against 24-year-old Donny M., who is accused of murdering 9-year-old Gino van der Straeten, among other things. The boy disappeared on 1 June 2022 while playing outside in Kerkrade, where he was staying with his older sister.

Three days later, the police arrested M. at his home in Geleen. On M.’s instructions, the police found Gino’s body, wrapped in garbage bags and dumped behind a burnt-out house in Geleen. M. confessed. After taking the boy to his house, he drugged the child and sexually abused him. He then allegedly killed the boy. The case caused much horror and indignation.

The investigation took a long time, partly because M. gave conflicting statements during police interrogations about what exactly happened. Behavioral experts have determined that the man suffers from various disorders.

The Public Prosecution Service (OM) also suspects M. of possessing and distributing child pornography and of committing indecent acts with an incapacitated person in 2019.

M. was previously convicted of abusing two children and sexually abusing one of them. Investigations have shown that the care and guidance M. received after that conviction did not go well. Another investigation revealed that the police failed to further investigate child pornography found on M.’s phone in 2021.

On Monday, the court will discuss the case with the suspect. On Tuesday, his personal circumstances will be discussed and victim statements will be presented. On Wednesday, the public prosecutors will explain their view of the case and demand a sentence. On Friday, M.’s lawyer will speak and the suspect will have the last word.

The public can follow the trial on screens in a community center elsewhere in Maastricht, not in the courthouse itself.